1 How important is it to you that Canada preserves traditional Christmas customs? I’m not sure / It depends | |
2 What does Christmas mainly mean to you these days? A deeply religious celebration | |
A joyful festive time with family and friends | |
A combination of faith and family traditions | |
More about customs and traditions than faith | |
A quiet time for reflection and giving | |
I don’t celebrate Christmas / None of these | |
3 What do you think has changed the most about how Christmas is celebrated in Canada? It feels less about faith and more about shopping | |
Fewer people seem interested in traditional Christmas activities | |
It’s become more multicultural and less about traditional Christmas | |
We’ve lost some of the communal spirit of older traditions | |
I haven’t noticed much change | |
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For first-time subscribers only 4 A recent national survey found that about 62% of Canadians prefer “Merry Christmas,” while 24% go with the culturally neutral “Happy Holidays.” Which greeting feels most natural to you? I prefer “Merry Christmas”—it captures the true spirit of the season | |
“Happy Holidays” is a warm, inclusive greeting for everyone | |
Specific greetings (e.g., “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Hanukkah”, etc.) honour people’s traditions | |
It doesn’t matter to me / I don’t celebrate | |
5 Christian traditions have long been part of public life in Canada, especially during Christmas. In recent years, some institutions have debated whether to scale back things like Christmas concerts, nativity scenes, or tree-lighting events in public spaces, while others feel these traditions remain an important part of Canada’s heritage. Which approach comes closest to your view? Keep Christmas traditions and symbols as they are—they reflect Canada’s Christian heritage | |
Keep them, and also recognize other cultural and faith traditions | |
Shift to neutral “winter” celebrations with no religious symbols | |
Remove all holiday-specific events from public institutions | |
6 Which of these feel the most distinctly Canadian in your Christmas or holiday season? Decorating a Christmas tree with family | |
Community concerts or festive events | |
Christmas church services | |
Outdoor winter activities (skiing, skating, tobogganing) | |
Baking and sharing treats with neighbours | |
Family gatherings for a festive meal | |
Regional traditions (e.g., mummering, belsnickeling) | |
Sending letters to Santa at H0H 0H0 | |
Charity work or volunteering | |
Handwritten Christmas cards | |
Reading/watching holiday classics | |
7 How confident are you that Canada’s Christmas traditions will still be meaningful to future generations?
8 What role should Canadian media play in covering Christmas and holiday traditions? Share uplifting stories about traditions and community | |
Provide neutral, unbiased reporting | |
Educate readers on Canada’s historical and cultural heritage | |
Share stories that celebrate family, faith, and community | |
Showcase local traditions and cultural diversity | |
Promote kindness, generosity, and charity | |
Focus more on timeless traditions than commercialism | |
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